Reporter Kicks Off Campaign

Breakfast, High Hopes At Fox Fund-raiser

June 27, 1990|By DAVID LERMAN Staff Writer

HAMPTON — Former television reporter Andy Fox served up bacon and eggs and a lot of optimism Tuesday morning as he launched an uphill campaign to oust Republican incumbent Herbert H. Bateman from Congress.

Elected officials who made a pitch for Fox on Tuesday portrayed him as an energetic, well-known personality who can do what no Democrat has been able to do in eight years: beat Bateman.

"People say the odds aren't good with Andy Fox," said state Sen. Robert C. Scott, D-Newport News, who lost to Bateman in 1986. "But we're going to win this election because we have the best candidate."

Beyer, the star attraction at the kickoff fund-raiser, pointed to Fox's four years of television exposure as an important asset in his bid to represent Virginia's 1st Congressional District.

"I understand the power of television," said Beyer, who married a former cable television reporter. "Andy Fox is not anonymous. People know who he is."

But party officials have acknowledged that Fox, who has no political experience and began his campaign only weeks ago, faces a difficult challenge in opposing Bateman.

"Some party leaders questioned whether it would be possible to put together an effective campaign, being so late," said John McGlennon, party chairman for Virginia's 1st District. "Maybe he's got some lucky breaks and some talent to make up ground faster."

The Fox campaign has refused to say how much money has been raised, although one source estimated the amount could be about $15,000.

Bateman has about $90,000 on hand, said David Moclair, his political director.

Bateman, who sits on the powerful House Armed Services Committee, has been heavily backed by defense firms.

While he spent about $218,000 two years ago to win re-election against a Newport News lawyer running for his first political office, Bateman poured more than $489,000 into his 1986 race, when he faced a tough fight against Scott.

Fox and his supporters maintain they will be able to raise however much money is required.

Paul Goldman, the chairman of the state Democratic Party who engineered Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's victory last fall, said in an interview that the state party will likely give money for the first time this year to congressional candidates, including Fox. He declined to say how much the party could give or how much Fox will need to win.

In a 10-minute speech that offered no specific proposals, Fox attacked Bateman as a weak representative whose positions on domestic issues run counter to those of many 1st District residents.

"The people themselves are telling me they're ready for new leadership," Fox said. "They're tired of inactive, obscure representation. They want leadership that is prepared to act boldly and confidently."

Hoping to play on the "new mainstream" theme of fiscal conservatism and social activism espoused by Wilder, Fox criticized the savings and loan industry bailout that will cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of tax dollars, while expressing support for abortion rights.

"We believe women have a right to make those decisions without government interference," he said to a round of applause.

Bateman opposes the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that prohibited states from banning abortions on demand, and opposes federally funded abortions except where the life of the mother is threatened, according to spokesman Larry Hart.

Fox faulted Bateman for voting against the Americans with Disabilities Act, described by its supporters as a landmark civil rights bill for the handicapped. He also faulted the congressman for voting against the Family and Medical Leave Act, which would require employers to give unpaid leave to parents.

Hart said Bateman opposed the disability bill because it is loosely defined and would create "years of litigation." He said Bateman opposed the family leave bill because of concerns that employees could lose other benefits, and because of a belief that the federal government should not mandate job benefits.

The 1st District covers the Peninsula, Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck and Eastern Shore. The congressional seat has been held by a Republican since 1977.

Bateman, who has represented the district since 1982, said in an earlier interview that he has "a substantial amount of optimism" about beating Fox, but added, "I don't take anything for granted."

Fox won the right to challenge Bateman by beating Mathews County attorney Damian T. Horne at a party convention two weeks ago. Horne attended Fox's kickoff Tuesday.

Fox resigned from his reporting job at WAVY-TV Channel 10 after winning the Democratic nomination.

David Overton, the station's news director, said there is nothing preventing Fox from returning to the station if he loses the Nov. 6 election, but nothing guaranteeing it either.

"I would consider him for any future openings I might have," Overton said.